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Full disclosure- I’ve known Kate through Twitter and blogging for a few years now. We finally met in person this past November, but we’ve been chatting for years. She taught 7th grade when I taught 6th grade and I was always amazed that she could be a real writer and continue to teach. She was a teacher-hero.🙂 Now Kate is a lucky lady who gets to write full-time because her books are awesome!

Capture the Flag is the perfect middle grade mystery but it also kept this adult intrigued. I’m a huge fan of the movie National Treasure and Capture the Flag is similar, but much more well-written! Kate Messner has crafted a fabulous trio of kids that read like kids I know. And the Jaguar Society? So cool! I want to be a part of the club! Not to mention, the history sprinkled throughout the story will keep readers interested and I think it will inspire a lot of readers to go out and do some more research on their own.

Anna, José, and Henry are brought together at the airport in Washington, DC when all flights are cancelled due to a blizzard. They don’t know that their lives are connected until the Star-Spangled Banner is in the news after being stolen from the Smithsonian Museum. Anna, who is certainly a leader, decides that she is going to track down the thieves, who must also be stuck in the airport because of the snow. But it’s not that simple- accusations are lobbed at all kinds of people, the kids’ parents don’t want them wreaking havoc in the airport, and the flag is still missing!

Capture the Flag is a great mystery for middle grade readers. Highly recommended for middle grade libraries and I think it would also make a great read aloud for a history class that is studying US history. Kate’s writing will keep readers guessing and the history will keep them learning. And it’s the perfect summer reading book for July! :)